The EU has apparently funded a new “Thematic Network on Biometric Technologies” under the ICT Policy Support Programme of FP7. The BEST (Biometrics European Stakeholders) Network aims to ensure “consensus-building and experience sharing” around the deployment of biometric ID systems. The BEST network includes 40 partner organisations, described as:
  • Government representatives
  • Academic researchers
  • Test laboratories
  • Research institutes
  • Consultancies
  • End user organisations
  • Biometrics industry representatives: suppliers & integrators

Privacy and data protection experts need not apply, it appears. You can read more about the network in these two presentations:

  • European Biometrics Forum: BEST (Biometrics European Stakeholders Network): best_standard.pdf
  • Biometrics in Europe: From Research and Implementation to BEST Practice: presentation

Looking out for you: the BEST consortiumBESTnetwork